Self propelled float apparatus



Nov. 6, 1962 w, 5001: 3,062,174

SELF PROPELLEID FLOAT APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2'7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. THEODORE w. G000 ATT KIV 7S Nov. 6, 1962 T. w. GOOD 3,062,174

SELF PROPELLED FLOAT APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1961 2 Sheets-She 0 v 0 5 R m H m6 k as; m w n O I o. 0 DA \s 0 m T 0. O J 0 M W -1! HM HUN 0 QR \P a w v a o M & Q 8 3 m m m 3 T O e M United States This invention relates to the swimming art and more particularly, to an improved supporting and propelling device which may be used for water sports and swimming. It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved supporting and self propelled float apparatus which can be easily actuated by the hands of a swimmer or non-swimmer and which is provided with a steering mechanism by means of which the user of the apparatus may easily and efiiciently steer the apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a self propelled supporting and swimming apparatus which is simple and compact in construction, economical of manufacture, light in weight, and which may be operated with safety by swimmers or non-swimmers.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved self propelled supporting and swimming apparatus upon which a person may be supported in a swimming position and upon which he may propel and steer himself at a considerable speed through the water.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a self propelled swimming and supporting apparatus which is sturdy in construction and light in weight whereby it may be easily carried in a station wagon or on top of a conventional automobile.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a self propelled swimming and supporting apparatus which embodies a pair of laterally spaced apart pontoons which are longitudinally disposed and are interconnected by a pair of cross members or frame members which are covered with a suitable platform having a pair of openings formed therethrough to permit the operator to extend his hands downwardly through the openings and propel a hand operated propelling means to move the apparatus forwardly or backwardly at any desired speed.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a self propelled supporting and swimming apparatus made in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevatonal view of .the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a transverse elevational perspective sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 3-3 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 4-4 thereof and showing the operators chest supporting board;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational sectional View of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the line 5-5 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 6-6 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view of atent G 3,062,174 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the line 7-7 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the line 8-8 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the line 9-9 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the line 10-10 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the line 11-11 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the numerals 10 and 11 generally designate a pair of longitudinally disposed laterally spaced apart pontoons which are hollow to provide optimum buoyancy. The pontoons 10 and 11 are fixedly interconnected by means of the two transverse or cross members 12 and 13. The pontoons 10 and 11 and the cross members 12 and 13 may be made from any suitable material as for example, from a wood construction, aluminum or from a suitable plastic. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the pontoon 11 comprises the upper and lower walls 14 and 15 respectively, and the inner and outer walls 16 and 17, respectively. As best seen in FIG. 1, the inner wall 16 is formed straight and extends longitudinally of the craft or apparatus and the outer wall 17 is convexly curved as viewed from the top of the craft. The front end of the pontoon 10 is provided with the vertical end wall 18 and a similar end wall 19 is provided at the rear end of the pontoon 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the top and bottom walls 14 and 15 taper towards each other at the front and rear ends thereof, that is, they converge toward the end walls 18 and 19, as shown by the numerals 20 and 21 and 22 and 23. The other pontoon 11 is constructed in the same identical manner 'and the corresponding parts thereof are marked with similar reference numerals followed by the small letter ia,

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the craft is provided with a platform or deck generally indicated by the numeral 24 which is adapted to be disposed on the cross bars 12 and 13 and to extend transversely between the pontoons 10 and 11. The deck 24 may be made from any suitable material as for example, a quarter-inch marine plywood, a lightweight metal as aluminum, or a suitable plastic. The deck 24 is provided at the rear end thereof with a concave curved surface 25 and on the forward end thereof with a concave surface 2'6. The deck 24 is adapted to be fixedly secured to the cross bars 12 and 13 by any suitable means as by the screws 27. It will be understood that the deck 24 may also be fixedly secured to the pontoons 10 and 11 by any suitable means. A pair of openings 28 and 29 are formed through the deck 24 adjacent the forward end thereof and these openings are elongated and extend longitudinally of the craft and are disposed at the outer sides of the deck 24 to permit the arms of :a user to extend downwardly therethrough for operating the propulsion means of the craft as more fully explained hereinafter. It will be seen from an inspection of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the deck 24 extends from the forward end of the pontoons 10 and 11 rearwardly for almost the complete length of the pontoons. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the deck 24 terminates at a point forwardly of the rear end of the pontoons 10 and 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the float apparatus of the present invention is provided with a chest rest or supporting board indicated by the numeral 30. The rear end of the chest board is hingedly connected by the hinge 31 to the deck 24 at the rear end of the board 30 as shown in FIG. 4. The front end of the chest board 30 is adapted to be raised and lowered to various desired positions by means of the following described structure. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a board or plate made from any suitable material and indicated by the numeral 32 is fixedly secured to the deck 24 between the armholes 28 and 29 and under the front end of the chest board 30. A transverse member 33 in the form of a board or plate is fixedly connected to the underside of the forward end of the chest board 30. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a metal rectangularly shaped member 34 made from suitable rod material or the like, is swingably mounted on the underside of the front end of the chest board 30 and is adapted to engage suitable slots as 35 in the board 32 to permit elevational adjustment of the front end of the chest board 30, by disposing the member 34 in the various slots 35. The elevational member 34 comprises the horizontal rod portion .36 to the ends which are integrally formed the vertical legs 37 and 38. Integrally formed on the upper ends of the legs 37 and 38 are the inwardly turned shafts 39 and 41 respectively, which are rotatably mounted in suitable mating holes on the outer sides of the cross board or member 33. It will be seen that the front end of the chest board 30 may be adjusted upwardly and downwardly by disposing the member 34 into selective cross grooves 35.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the propulsion means for the float apparatus of the present invention is suspended beneath the deck 24 and is carried on a substantially rectangular longitudinally disposed horizontal plate 41. The plate 41 may be made from any rust resistant ma terial as aluminum or a plastic material. The plate 41 is carried by means of the U-shaped straps 42 which are fixedly secured to the deck 24 by any suitable means as by the rivets 43. The plate 41 is similarly secured to the supporting straps or brackets 42 as by means of the rivets 44. The propulsion means comprises the large bevel drive wheel gear 45 which is provided with the hub 46. As shown in FIG. 6, the gear 45 is vertically disposed and is fixedly connected to the transverse shaft 48 by means of the set screw 47 or other suitable means. The transverse shaft 48 is suitably rotatably journalled on the underside of the carrier member or plate 41 by means of the hanger brackets 49 and 50 which are fixedly secured to the underside of the member 41 by any suitable means as by the rivets 51. Fixedly secured to the outer ends of the transverse shaft 48 are the hand operable cranks generally indicated by the numerals 52 and 53 which are adapted to be operated by the operator through the openings 28 and 29 respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the gear 45 drives a first small bevel gear 54 which is connected by means of the set screw 55 to the forward drive shaft 56. The drive shaft 56 is centrally disposed on the under-side of the member 41 and is suitably rotatably journalled thereon by means of the supporting bracket member 57 which is secured to the carrier member 41 by any suitable means as by the rivets 58. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the forward drive shaft 56 is operatively connected by means of the universal joint 59 to the forward propeller shaft 60 which carries the conventional propeller 61 at the forward end thereof. The universal connector 59 may be of any suitable type as for example, the conventional type used in conventional socket wrench drive means. The forward propeller shaft 61 is suitably rotatably journalled -in the supporting bracket 62 which is fixedly secured to the arm 63 which extends upwardly rearwardly over the carrier member 41. The arm 63 is fixedly secured to the vertical steering shaft 64 which is disposed on a vertical axis coincident with the center point of the universal connector means 59. The steering shaft 64 extends upwardly through the opening 65 in the deck 24 and has fixedly connected to the upper end thereof the tiller arm or steering handle 66.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the large drive bevel gear 45 also drives a second small bevel gear 67 which is fixedly connected as by means of the set screw 68 to the longitudinally disposed rear drive shaft 69. The drive shaft 69 is suitably rotatably journalled by means of the brackets 70 and 71 on the lower side of the carrier member 41. The brackets 70 and 71 are suitably secured to the carrier member 41 by any suitable means as by the rivets 72 and 73, respectively. The rear end of the crank shaft 69 is operatively connected by means of the conventional universal joint 74 to the front end of the rear propeller shaft 75 which is operatively journalled in the bracket 76. The propeller shaft 75 has fixedly mounted on the rear end thereof the rear drive and steering propeller '77. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the bracket 76 is fixedly secured to the arm 78 which extends upwardly and forwardly over the carrier plate 41 and which is fixedly secured to the rear steering vertical shaft 79. The shaft 79 is mounted on a vertical axis which is coincident with the center point of the universal joint 74.

It will be seen that the float apparatus of the present invention may be easily and efficiently steered and propelled by means of the forward and aft propellers 61 and 77, respectively. The universal joints 59 and 74 permit the propellers 61 and 77, respectively, to be turned about the axis of the steering shafts 64 and 79' by means of the following described structure for steering purposes.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a first pulley wheel 80 is fixedly connected to the front steering shaft 64 below the deck 24. A second pulley wheel 81 is fixedly connected to the rear steering shaft 79 at a point below the deck 24. The rear steering shaft 79 is suitably rotatably journalled in the opening 82 in the deck 24. A one-eighth inch rust resistant cable 83 is mounted around the pulleys 80 and 81 and the ends thereof are joined by means of the spring 84 to provide constant tension of the cable on the steering wheels or pulleys 86 and 81. As shown in FIG. 7, the pulley cable 83 is crossed whereby when the front pulley wheel 80 is turned in one direction, the rear pulley wheel 81 will be turned in the opposite direction, to permit the front propeller 61 to provide a pulling effect in a desired direction and the rear propeller to provide a pushing action in the desired direction. It will be seen that when the steering handle 66 is moved to the right or in a counter clockwise direction to swing the front propeller 61 to the left, the rear pulley will rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7 to swing the rear propeller 77 to the left side of the apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 11, the steering handle 66 is connected to the vertical shaft 64 by means of the lock nut 85 and by means of the upper end of the shaft 64 being formed square and mating with the square hole 86 in the forward end of the handle 66. The steering handle 66 is held in the desired adjusted position by means of the pin 87 and the arcuate plate 88 which is fixedly secured to the top of the deck 24 by any suitable means. The pin 87 is adapted to pass through the hole 89 in the steering handle 66 and to be normally biased downwardly by means of the spring 90. The spring 90 is seated in the recess 91 on the upper side of the handle 66 which communicates with the hole 89. The upper end of the spring abuts the cover plate 92 which is fixedly secured to the handle 66 to enclose the recess 91. The lower end of the spring abuts against the cross pin 93 mounted in the pin 87. It will be seen that the spring 90 normally biases the pin 87 downwardly so that the lower end thereof engages in one of the holes 94 formed in the arcuate plate 83. The steering handle 66 may be moved to another selected steering position by lifting upwardly on the pin and moving the member 66 to the right or the left, as desired. The spring 91 will bias the pin 87 downwardly into the holes 94 and releasably secure the steer ing handle 66 in an adjusted position.

In the use of the supporting and swimming apparatus of the present invention, the operator lies on the deck 24 of the apparatus with his chest disposed on the chest board 30. The chest board 30 may be covered with any suitable resilient material as rubber or the like if desired for comfort purposes. The operator extends his arms downwardly through the openings 28 and 29 and then propels the cranks 52 and 53 at any desired speed. It will be obvious that if the operator wishes to go forwardly in a straight direction, the steering handle 66 will be disposed in the center position, that is, wherein it is disposed along the longitudinal center line of the apparatus. The apparatus may be turned to the right or the left by merely moving the lever 66 in the proper direction.

Experience has shown that a supporting and swimming apparatus made in accordance with the present invention is practical and may be used by non-swimmers with safety. The movement of the operators arms in operating the cranks 52 and 53 will aid in teaching the arm movement adapted for swimming to non-swimmers. If the operator of the apparatus of the present invention gets tired, he may simply relax and float with safety. Since the deck 24 of the apparatus is disposed and connected to the pontoons at a point below the horizontal center line thereof, the operator gets the feeling of being partly submerged in the water at all times and gives the nonswimmer the feeling of moving about in the water as if he were swimming. Experience has also shown that a device made in accordance with the present invention, is one which is sturdy in construction and which is relatively free from trouble because of the simplicity of construction. The supporting and swimming apparatus of the present invention may be made to any desired size and weight. For example, an operative embodiment was made which weighed about forty pounds and had an overall width of 36 inches and an over-all length of seven feet ten inches. The propellers used in said embodiment were three-bladed wheels having an over-all diameter of fourteen inches. The deck 24 was located below the horizontal center line of the pontoons as previously described and this construction gives the desired optimum balance to the apparatus. It will be understood that the operator may also sit on the deck 24 with his fee-t extending downwardly through the openings 28 and 29 to permit him to sit in an upright position and float around, or do some fishing. The construction of the apparatus of the present invention also permits the operator to lay on the deck of the craft onhis back for sun tanning purposes. In the aforementioned practical embodiment, the large bevel gear 45 had sixty teeth thereon and the small bevel gears 54 and 67 had fifteen teeth thereon whereby one complete turn of the drive gear 45 turned the small bevel gears four times. In said embodiment, the hand cranks were eight inches long which gave a turning circle of the cranks of approximately sixteen inches diameter. It will be understood that any desired ratio between the driving gear 45 and the driven gears 54 and 67 may be employed.

It will be noted that the rear propeller 77 is disposed under the deck 24 in the position forwardly of the rear curved end 25 of the deck 24 and this is a safety feature since the body of the operator may be moved rearwardly off of the deck 24 without danger of hitting any propeller or steering rudder means. The support and swimming device of the present invention is adapted to provide healthful exercise for the operator and amusement for the operator and further, may be used in life saving work in case of peril at a seaside or river resort.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjointed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A self propelled float apparatus of the class described, comprising: a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extended pontoons; a plurality of transverse braces fixedly connecting said pontoons together; a deck mounted between said pontoons and provided with an opening on each side; a plate suspended below said deck; a front steering shaft and a rear steering shaft rotatably mounted through said deck and extended downwardly toward said plate; a front propeller arm, having one end fixed to the front steering shaft, extended forwardly beyond the front end of said plate; a front propeller shaft rotatably mounted on the other end of the front propeller arm; a front propeller mounted on the front end of said front propeller shaft; a longitudinally disposed front drive shaft rotatably mounted on said plate; a universal coupling connecting the rear end of said front propeller shaft and the front end of said front drive shaft; a rear propeller arm, having one end fixed to the rear steering shaft, extended forwardly beyond the rear end of said plate; a rear propeller shaft rotatably mounted on the other end of the rear propeller arm; a rear propeller mounted on the rear end of said rear propeller shaft; a longitudinally disposed rear drive shaft rotatably mounted on said plate; a universal coupling connecting the front end of said rear propeller shaft and the rear end of said rear drive shaft; a transverse shaft mounted on said plate between the front and rear drive shafts; a hand crank connected to each end of said transverse shaft and accessible through said openings; a gear means interconnecting said transverse shaft and said front and rear drive shafts for turning the drive shafts when the hand cranks are operated; a tiller arm disposed above said deck and connected to said front steering shaft; and, means interconnecting said steering shafts, whereby when the front steering shaft is turned by said tiller arm the rear steering shaft will be turned.

2. The self propelled float apparatus as defined in claim 1, including: means for retaining the tiller arm in various adjusted steering positions.

3. The self propelled float apparatus as defined in claim 1, including: an adjustable chest rest board mounted on the front end of said deck adjacent said tiller arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,693 Kuhne June 24, 1862 1,030,525 Myers June 25, 1912 1,049,315 Pollak Dec. 31, 1912 1,536,316 Tamassy May 5, 1925 

